Category Archives: The Spiritual Life

As we move into 2018 many are hoping for a better year than 2017. Many had a very hard year, even excessively hard. Yesterday I was at a public hospital to see a doctor (thyroid) and get medicine repeats. While at the first stage of the process I got talking with a doctor also waiting in the process. He used to work at that particular hospital but had moved on. As we spoke I asked him what his thoughts were for the new year. He immediately answered that he saw nothing ahead that he felt that he could put his hope in. He is not optimistic about the future.

And in one way or another we will all be looking ahead and wondering what life will be like in 2018, or wondering what will happen in our personal circumstances in the coming year. And with so many changes happening so quickly and unexpectedly in the last 20 years or so. It’s hard to be able to predict what will happen in the coming new year. Life has become very uncertain, very unpredictable, not as it was 30-40 years ago.

What many found to be secure 30 years ago in businesses and careers are no longer secure today. From a spiritual perspective I see a very positive side to the modern insecurity of the temporal life. When businesses and careers were secure people who were resisting God found a comfortable place to hide from the Lord in those ‘secure’ environments. But as our world has so turned from the Lord and each generation turned from Him further than the previous generations. Our world has become more and more insecure as it’s become more and more ungodly. And as the Lord has been left out of modern society more and more, He has not allowed such people, such nations, to prosper as once they did when they acknowledge Him, and the Christian Faith as the one truth faith from Him. Now it is becoming far harder to find the world a distraction ‘from the Lord’. In all levels of society people are very insecure regarding their future, regarding the new year. And that is good! People mustn’t be able to find ‘security’ in the world!

I’m hoping that this will have a positive cause in some irreligious people turning to the Lord. And some religious, lost people, turning properly, Biblically to the Lord. As only the Lord can provide absolutely perfect security regardless of our circumstances. That which the Lord wants to give each of us, our world at it’s best cannot come close to providing…

Hope … As An Anchor Of The Soul

While still in this life, in this world, God’s children have hope, perfect security from God regarding their temporal life, as well as their eternal souls…

Hebrews 6:18-2018 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

As an anchor secures a boat or ship from drifting, so an individual being ‘in-Christ’, being Born Again’, is perfectly secure regarding their eternal soul’s security. And each child of God may have this hope keep them perfectly secure in this world. Even should chaos be happening around them, because their security, their hope is in Christ, their hope cannot be taken away, it cannot be lost! It is in Hebrews 6 promised to be both, “sure and stedfast”…

“Sure”: As in ‘certain’ or ‘unfailing’

“Stedfast”: Will not abandon the child of God before they are living in eternity, at Home in Heaven with the Lord.

This is where our hope for 2018 must be! In Christ! Not in ‘favourible circumstances’ or in ‘things working out better for us in the New Year’. There is no Biblical reason why 2018 will be good as far as temporal things are concerned. Our rebellious societies / cultures give every indication of breaking down even further than they have at this point in time! Get hope from the ONLY source that guarantees hope … Christ!

In Christ’s Hand, In The Hand Of The Father

Those who are truly Christ’s, those who have actually been born again, follow Him. Their life is not their own, they follow their Saviour’s example that He made while in our world…

John 10:27-3027 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.

Christ’s redeemed, His sheep, are absolutely secure in His Hand. As secure as if they were already with Him in Heaven! There is no more secure place than in their Saviour’s Hand! And if that was not enough, the Lord Jesus further comforts His sheep with the fact that they are also in the Father’s Hand! Language cannot express the extent of such security! Words fail us to adequately describe the absolute security of God’s children! And though they will have trials and struggles while still in this sin damaged world, their souls are perfectly secure in Christ for all eternity.

Those Who Know And Keep Christ’s Commandments Are Those Who Are Secure

1 John 2:3-63 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

It is one thing reading, and learning of the perfect security of God’s children. It is another to have such hope, such certainty in one’s heart and mind, giving daily comfort. The irresponsible child of God will not experience the comfort of hope and certainty as they should in their daily walk. The apostle John writes of the eternal security of the child of God who keeps the commandments of Christ faithfully. And this promised certainty strengthens with time. Where on going obedience to the commands of Christ becomes the life of the child of God. Where their life is permanently changed / shaped by the commands of Christ. And (v5) as the, “love of God”, ‘matures’ / ‘is perfected’ in them. Love for God, and then love for their fellow man. These will become blessed indicators of true life with Christ as a child of God. And (v6) they will live according to the same values that the Scriptures teach us that Christ had. Witnessing such change in one self will encourage that one that they have in reality been secured in Christ.

The Inner Working Of The Holy Spirit Gives God’s Children Eternal Security

Here we see that it is the whole Triune Godhead that is involved in the child of God’s hope, their eternal security. Here we are taught the part that the Holy Spirit has…

Romans 8:4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that the obedient child of God is enabled to live righteously, according to the normally impossibly high standards of God’s law. Which happens when they, in obedience to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit, walk after Him instead of after the sinful passions of their flesh…

Romans 8:13-1713 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

V15/ It is by the indwell Holy Spirit that God’s children will love Almighty God as their Father.

V16/ They will know the witness of the indwelling Spirit that thy are indeed children of God.

Again: it is through obediently allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead them that another form of ‘hope’, ‘eternal security’ is realized / known in God’s children’s personal experience. That, “all things work together for good to them that love God…”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The apostle Paul, after teaching the amazing truths of this chapter in Romans describing the incomparable life of the Spirit led, and Spirit enabled child of God, sums up…

Romans 8:31-3231 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Folks, why be mindlessly foolish by looking to the world, our cultures, and life’s fickle circumstances in the coming 2018 for hope in the coming months of 2018?! Look to the Lord each day, week and month for all your hope in life! Our rebellious world and its ways is going to pass away forever soon (1 John 2:17). Only the ways of the Lord will continue into eternity. Live with the Lord and get used to living according to His values and ways now! And know His hope as an anchor through 2018 and for the rest of your life in this temporal world!

1 John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.“

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Love

(The following is taken from a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon…)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love.”Galatians 5:22.

THE worst enemy we have is the flesh. Augustine used to frequently pray, “Lord, deliver me from that evil man, myself.” All the fire which the devil can bring from hell could do us little harm if we had not so much fuel in our nature. It is the powder in the magazine of the old man which is our perpetual danger. When we are guarding against foes outside, we must not forget to be continually on our watchtower against the foe of foes within. “The flesh lusts against the Spirit.” On the other hand, our best friend, who loves us better than we love ourselves, is the Holy Spirit. We are shockingly forgetful of the Holy Spirit, and therein it is to be feared that we greatly grieve Him, yet we are immeasurably indebted to Him, in fact, we owe our spiritual existence to His divine power. It would not be proper to compare the love of the Spirit with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, so as even by implication to set up a scale of degrees in love, for the love of the regenerating Spirit is infinite, even as is the love of the redeeming Son. But yet for a moment we will set these two displays of love side by side. Is not the indwelling of the Spirit of God equal in loving-kindness to the incarnation of the Son of God? Jesus dwelt in a pure manhood of His own, the Holy Spirit dwells in our manhood, which is fallen, and as yet imperfectly sanctified. Jesus dwelt in His human body, having it perfectly under His own control, but, alas, the Holy Spirit must contend for the mastery within us, and though He is Lord over our hearts, yet there is an evil power within our members, strongly entrenched and obstinately bent on mischief. “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” Our Lord Jesus dwelt in His body only for some 30 years or so, but the blessed Spirit of all grace dwells in us evermore, through all the days of our pilgrimage, from the moment when He enters into us by regeneration He continues in us, making us qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. You sing—

“Oh, ‘tis love, ‘tis wondrous love,”

in reference to our Lord Jesus and His cross, sing it also in reference to the Holy Spirit and His longsuffering.

He looks at us from within and therefore He sees the chambers of imagery where hidden idols still abide. He sees our actions, not from the outside, for there, perhaps, they might be judged favorably, but He discerns them from within, in their springs and in the pollution of those springs, in their main currents and in all their side eddies and back waters. O brethren, it is wonderful that this blessed Spirit should not leave us in indignation, we lodge Him so ill; we honor Him so little. He receives so little of our affectionate worship that He might well say, “I will no longer abide with you.” When the Lord had given up His people to the Roman sword, there was heard in the temple at Jerusalem a sound as of rushing wings, and a voice crying, “Let us go from here.” The divine presence justly might have left us also because of our sins. It is matchless love which has caused the Holy Spirit to bear with our ill manners, and bear our vexatious behavior. He stays though sin intrudes into His temple! He makes His royal abode where evil assails His palace! Alas, that a heart where the Spirit deigns to dwell should always be made a thoroughfare for selfish or unbelieving traffic! God help us to adore the Holy Spirit at the commencement of our discourse, and to do so even more reverently at its close! The Holy Spirit when He comes into us is the author of all our desires after true holiness. He strives in us against the flesh. That holy conflict which we wage against our corruption comes entirely of Him.

We would sit down in willing bondage to the flesh, if He did not bid us strike for liberty. The good Spirit also leads us in the way of life. If we are led of the Spirit, says the apostle, we are not under the law.

He leads us by gentle means, drawing us with cords of love, and bands of a man. “He leads me.” If we take a single step in the right road, it is because He leads us, and if we have persevered these many years in the way of peace, it is all due to His guidance, even to Him who will surely bring us in and make us to enjoy the promised rest—

“And every virtue we possess,

And every victory won,

And every thought of holiness,

Are His alone.”

The Holy Spirit not only creates the inward contest against sin, and the agonizing desire for holiness, and leads us onward in the way of life, but He remains within us, taking up His residence, and somewhat more, for the text suggests a still more immovable steadfastness of residence in our hearts, since according to the figure, the Spirit strikes root within us. The text speaks of “fruit,” and fruit comes only of a rooted abidance, it could not be conceived of in connection with a transient sojourning, like that of a wayfaring man. The stakes and tent pins that are driven into the ground for an Arab’s tent bear no fruit, for they do not remain in one place, and inasmuch as I read of the “fruit of the Spirit,” I take comfort from the hint, and conclude that He intends to abide in our souls as a tree abides in the soil when fruit is borne by it. Let us love and bless the Holy Spirit! Let the golden altar of incense perfume this earth with the sweet savor of perpetual adoration to the Holy Spirit! Let our hearts heartily sing to Him this solemn doxology—

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

The LORD’s answer to man’s greatest, deepest, needs – that He created within man – is Himself. Man naturally produces, “the works of the flesh … Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:” Now while most people don’t do most of these, all do some of them in varying degrees. But when one has been born again they have the ability of Almighty God available to them to put such sinful behaviour out of their lives. Right from the earliest days after being born again, God’s children have, and display, “the fruit of the Spirit.” Now the usual thing, even for the most faithful children of God, is for them to be ‘distracted’ from the LORD to some degree while still early in their walk with the LORD. Paul called this spiritual ‘setback’ being ‘carnal’, or ‘fleshly (walking after one’s sinful flesh instead of walking in obedience after the Holy Spirit)…

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

These brethren had been born again, but spiritually lost their way early in their walk, and at the writing of 1 Corinthians were meant to be mature believers. But because they resisted the inner working of the Holy Spirit, they never developed in their walk. The, “fruit of the Spirit”, would have been hard to detect in them. Therefore these brethren never knew the spiritual benefits of God’s divine enabling within them. They like the lost knew and displayed, “the works of the flesh”, rather than the, “fruit of the Spirit”.

Also, the apostle John wrote of the church at Ephesus as having, “left their first love”…

Revelation 2:2-4 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

They were really good, really faithful, in many aspects of their faith and ministry. But in their personal walk with the LORD, the primary consideration in their existence (no exaggeration!) they were failing! Their love for the LORD had weakened! They were perhaps so caught up in ministry, and contending for the faith that they neglected what was most important – their personal walk with the LORD! Through their resisting the inner working of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And so they too, despite doing so much better than the Corinthian brethren, were failing in the foundational side of their spiritual lives. Their not being completely yielded to the LORD! And as a result, “the fruit of the Spirit”, would have become harder and harder to detect in them. They, within themselves would have not known the spiritual enabling of the Holy Spirit enabling them up to know, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:”, from God. These virtues would have been there faintly at times, but completely absent at other times!

The LORD’s answer to this spiritual challenge, we have seen, is through the enabling of indwelling Holy Spirit…

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Leading to spiritual victory in personal, daily righteousness in one’s walk with the LORD…

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And thereby also knowing the development, the reality, of, “the fruit of the Spirit”, in their walk with the LORD. Each child of God must each day be looking to the LORD to know the reality of, “through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body”, which brings divine spiritual life, “ye shall live”. AS WELL AS, “the fruit of the Spirit”…

The daily spiritual battle as stated in Galatians…

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Starting the day right…

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, …

God’s children will not live by, “the works of the flesh”, (see verses 19-21). But rather will know, and display the fruit of the Spirit…

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Pursuing The Impossible (See lessons 189 – Continued)

Some of us, pursue the impossible task of fulfilling our deepest needs by adding that which seems, by our observation, to be fulfilling to others: As much money as we can get; carnal (fleshly) entertainment, and great foods which give us temporary pleasures each day; great looking homes, cars, clothing, etc. that will impress others; and we could go on and on listing all the things that people around the world accumulate, and strive for, in order to reach the impossible goal of finding permanent happiness, and complete satisfaction of heart and mind. And so, in the end, they live with the constant need of more… more money, more and different entertainment and foods… needing more ‘things’ to add to life to try and meet the unfulfilled dissatisfaction they feel… yet still they are not satisfied… and keep needing more still…, and needing new things, and new experiences…

(Continuing…)

Illustrated By King Solomon

King Solomon, the third king of Israel, son of the godly king David, started his reign excellently! He was rightfully overwhelmed by the humanly impossible task of leading God’s people. Leading them not only as their political leader, but also as a spiritual leader as well. Israel were to be the spiritual example to the whole world of the ideal nation, whose God was the actual God Who created the world and the universe. A huge responsibility! And so king Solomon humbly asked the LORD for the required wisdom to rule Israel (1 Kings 3:5-14, 28 KJV).

As a result king Solomon, in many ways, was the most successful king of Israel as far as success in leading a nation to greatness amongst all the other nations of the world. King Solomon experienced all that one can experience, that one can accomplish, when not limited by money and political influence. Sadly, Solomon allowed himself to be caught up in the sinful pursuit of ‘life, personal satisfaction and fulfillment,’ through what he could experience and achieve through his unnaturally superior wisdom, together with his political power as king of the most powerful nation on earth at the time. And therefore his access to all that the world had to offer him at that time. All experienced while neglecting his personal walk with the LORD. Solomon discovered that the best anyone can pursue in life, achieve in life, was, ‘in his eyes’…

Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Solomon concluded that all that an individual can accomplish in their short life in this world was comparable to, “vanity”, or pointlessness, as well as, “vexation of spirit”, or unavoidable frustration.

Life The LORD’s Way Meets Our Deepest Needs ALWAYS

The LORD informs us that man was made to have life with, and through, Him. And only such a life would be meaningful in this short physical existence, as well as giving incomparable hope beyond this life, in eternity with the LORD…

Philippians 1:21 For to me to liveis Christ, and to dieis gain.

The child of God who lives life God’s way, with His enabling, knows two vital fulfilments to their existence: 1) Life now, “is Christ”, i.e. Is astoundingly purposeful! It is all about Him, and enjoying daily life with Him, being primarily focused on, and intimately involved in, His purposes in this world! 2) And then, when this short life is over, the child of God has the God given assurance of eternal life with Him! This, and this only, is the only life that the Lord will allow to be completely fulfilling. And the spiritual life in Christ, lived His way, and with the Holy Spirit’s enabling is fulfilling beyond all expectations.

Have you yet discovered how beyond your personal ability life is? That you appreciate that the, “works of the flesh”, listed in Galatians 5 list certain sinful attitudes and behaviour that you cannot get away from, that you cannot get out of your heart and mind? And that you find, especially when confronted with the teachings of Christ in the Word of God, that you cannot be as righteous in daily life as He calls you to? This is where the Biblical, spiritual life in Christ, lived God’s way, knows His input in the way of, “the fruit of the Spirit”, that elevates the obedient child of God’s life beyond anything our world has to offer. Read again through, “the fruit of the Spirit”, and ask the Lord to open your eyes, to better appreciate what is would be like knowing those virtues in you, FROM THE LORD. Not from family, or loving friends, but those blessed virtues built into you as only Almighty God can give!

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What a contrast between the two minds, the two mind sets! The one shows the potential depth of corrupt character of those outside of Christ – from the LORD’s perspective. And the other shows the LORD’s view of Christ as He lived in our world for about 33 years. And describes the potential of each child of God, because they are in Christ, because they have been born again.

(Continuing…)

Pursuing The Impossible

When a task needs to be accomplished, the task is wisely given to those whom are able, those who are equipped to carry out the task. A two year old child is not given the task of preparing soldiers for battle. Neither is a two year old child given the task of building a space craft to go into outer space. Most of us know this (we won’t ask the two year olds themselves, some may just volunteer for the tasks…). But all of us pursue the impossible when we attempt to live a happy and completely fulfilled life, apart from the spiritual life found only in Christ, as taught in God’s Word through His Spirit! Some of us also attempt to live lives that the LORD would accept, and acknowledge, as ‘good enough’, or as ‘acceptable to Him’.

As we have seen, the LORD sees some of the following sinful characteristics in each of us – which is totally unacceptable to Him…

Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 3:23 For allhave sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

What is vital to know at this point is that the above, “works of the flesh”, are Almighty God’s perspective of us, not only of Christians who have been taught by Him. In order for any of us to be saved from the condemnation of the sin which is in all of us, we all must be born again…

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

If you are uncertain about what it takes for you to be, “born again”, to have a spiritual birth into God’s family, you are welcome to download an eBooklet to assist you in examining the Lord Jesus’ teaching on how you must be born again…

Some of us, pursue the impossible task of fulfilling our deepest needs by adding that which seems, by our observation, to be fulfilling to others: As much money as we can get; carnal (fleshly) entertainment, and great foods which give us temporary pleasures each day; great looking homes, cars, clothing, etc. that will impress others; and we could go on and on listing all the things that people around the world accumulate, and strive for, in order to reach the impossible goal of finding permanent happiness, and complete satisfaction of heart and mind. And so, in the end, they live with the constant need of more… more money, more and different entertainment and foods… needing more ‘things’ to add to life to try and meet the unfulfilled dissatisfaction they feel… yet still they are not satisfied… and keep needing more still…, and needing new things, and new experiences…

(In our next study we will look at the LORD’s guaranteed provision for life with Him beyond all expectation.)

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

‘Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom’, From The LORD, Leads To The Reality Of ‘Life With, And Through The LORD’

The LORD’s Goal Of Leading His Children To Being Spiritually Minded (See lesson 087 – Continued)

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

“The fruit of the Spirit”, may be called ‘virtues’ that will be found in God’s children who ARE being led by the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit led child of God grows so will the, “fruit of the Spirit”, virtues become more and more evident in them…

(Continuing…)

Carnally Minded – “The Works Of The Flesh”

Those outside of Christ, those not born again, can only walk after the flesh. The only choice that they have is how much they yield to the corrupting passions of their flesh. Some live in such a manner as to be recognized as being morally decent by the world. While others have so given themselves over to the natural sinful passions of their flesh that even the world regards them as evil. And between these two extremes are endless varieties of, “carnally minded”, lost people. ALL of whom the Lord views as being at, ‘“enmity against”, Himself’. Because they are not subject to the law of God, and neither are they able to live under the law of God in obedience to it (Romans 8:7 KJV).

“The Works Of The Flesh”

Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This passage describes people who are outside of Christ, who are, “in the flesh”, who, “walk after the flesh.” And lists what they do, as well as those things that they are capable of doing when either, “in the flesh”, – who have not been born again, or who have been born again, but they are disobedient to the attempted leading of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore, “walking after the flesh”.

This fleshly spiritual condition is visible, “manifest”, to all. (Some definitions are taken from Strong’s or Thayer’s dictionaries.)

“…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” i.e. While a person is given over to being controlled by their fleshly passions, they will not be able to yield to God in repentance and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all of their hearts (Acts 20:21 KJV). They need to be firstly won over to having a change of mind towards God by the Holy Spirit. To repentant toward Him, before they will be able to be repentant toward Christ (to believe in Him with all of their hearts).

Spiritually Minded – ‘The Fruit Of The Spirit’

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What a contrast between the two minds, the two mind sets! The one shows the potential depth of corrupt character of those outside of Christ – from the LORD’s perspective. And the other shows the LORD’s view of Christ as He lived in our world for about 33 years. And describes the potential of each child of God, because they are in Christ, because they have been born again. And because they have the Holy Spirit literally living in them, they, through the Holy Spirit, are given the potential of being as, “spiritually minded”, as Christ was. And therefore in their person displaying, demonstrating, the, “fruit of the Spirit”. The LORD’s goal for each child of His is that, “the fruit of the Spirit”, be a reality in His children. And the same desire / passion will be growing in His children who are being led by His Spirit.

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

‘Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom’, From The LORD, Leads To The Reality Of ‘Life With, And Through The LORD’

The LORD wants His children to know Him and get His view, His values of all things. Once a child of God has been brought to understand, to know, “the fear of the LORD”. Then, they have the right view, the right attitude towards Him that they will pursue Biblical knowledge appropriately. As before noted, not just to learn whatever understanding they get as they study, but to pursueGod’s Truth that HE intends to communicate through His Word. The specific truths that He gave to be recorded in His Word, that through the illuminating (opening of understanding) work of the Holy Spirit they may discover (1 Corinthians 2:6-16 KJV).

The ‘wisdom, knowledge and understanding’ that LORD reveals through His Word, and through the crucial illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit, are made up of what Christians have historically called the ‘basic doctrines of the Christian Faith’…

Theology – what the Bible teaches about God

Christology – what the Bible teaches about Christ

Pneumatology – what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit

Anthropology – what the Bible teaches about man

Soteriology – what the Bible teaches about salvation

Hamartiology – what the Bible teaches about sin

Ecclesiology – what the Bible teaches about the Church

Bibliology – what the Bible teaches about the Bible

Eschatology – what the Bible teaches about prophecy and the end times

Angelology – what the Bible teaches about angels and satan

These doctrines, teachings, and commands of God are spread throughout the Bible, and the whole Bible needs to be examined in the light of each of these basic doctrines, in order to discover the truths of what the LORD reveals about each. The fear of the LORD will drive the honest child of God to pursuethe truth of each doctrine / subject. They won’t be satisfied that their denomination, or their local church, teaches ‘x, y and z’, and therefore they blindly BELIEVE ‘x, y and z’. No! The Spirit led child of God will pursue the Truththat is in the mind of Almighty God, and revealed by Him through the Bible, His Word!

The LORD’s Goal Of Leading His Children To Being Spiritually Minded

As far as God’s children’s spiritual growth toward becoming more and more spiritually minded is concerned. The Holy Spirit achieves that, as we have seen, as they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17 KJV). The Holy Spirit will teach, the teachable child of God how to daily, “through the Spirit … mortify the deeds of the body” [PUT TO DEATH; BREAK THE POWER / CONTROL OF SIN], (Romans 8:14). Thus achieving two vital spiritual goals of Romans 8: 1) The practical reality of not walking after the flesh, but actually walking after the Spirit; 2) Purifying their daily walk, ‘“that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled”, in them’. Which also may be stated as their learning to live holy, and purely, like their God and Saviour.

As we have seen being, “spiritually minded”, involves quite a few spiritual truths. All relating to their gaining ‘knowledge, understanding and wisdom’ of God from His Word. (What it means in daily practice to not walk after the flesh, but rather to walk after the Spirit; etc.) All of which describes the character of Christ. Which, looking ahead, we want to further examine in terms of the, “spiritually minded”, child of God’s ‘Christ like character’. This is important as being, “spiritually minded”, is not ‘majoring’ in some areas of the spiritually life, while ‘minoring’ in others; or taking certain commands of the LORD seriously, while neglecting other commands. In Galatians we are given what could be called ‘the finer details’ of being, “spiritually minded”…

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

“The fruit of the Spirit”, may be called ‘virtues’ that will be found in God’s children who ARE being led by the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit led child of God grows so will the, “fruit of the Spirit”, virtues become more and more evident in them…

Love – unselfish, godly love; Love, whether used of God or man, is an earnest and anxious desire for and an active and beneficent interest in the well-being of the one loved (Thayer dictionary).

Joy – cheerfulness, that is, calm delight (Strong dictionary)

Peace – quietness or rest of mind; not being troubled by the conscience

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Knowing The Reality Of “The Fear Of The LORD” Opens The Way To ‘Knowledge’ And ‘Wisdom’ From The LORD

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

… is expanded on in Proverbs 2…

Proverbs 2:1-5 1 My son, IF thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 SO THAT thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 IF thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;5 THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

(Previously…)

Why study, “the fear of the LORD”? – Because the Lord says that a right attitude towards Him is required for His children to gain ‘knowledge’. Meaning accurate ‘spiritual knowledge’ from Him, through His Word.

The required passion for God’s Truth, for ‘wisdom, understanding, and knowledge’, only comes to God’s children who respond to the inner working of the indwelling Holy Spirit with integrity, and who thereafter walk with Him uprightly! (Consistent integrity). As wonderfully exemplified by king David.

(Continuing…)

The LORD gives His children more insight as we move on through chapter 2 of Proverbs…

“Find The Knowledge Of God” – Proverbs 2:5b

Proverbs 2:5-6 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Up to this point we have established that the LORD’s command for His children to study His Word, and thereby become spiritually minded: which is learning correct knowledge of Who and What the LORD is. As well as precisely what the Christian Faith is in the corporate environment of the local church. And also, very importantly, what exactly the spiritual life is between the individual child of God and the LORD in their daily walk with Him. And that the only certain way for any child of God to reach the vital goal of correct, accurate, knowledge from God’s Word is to read, study and meditate in God’s Word with integrity. Which we saw would bring about a powerful, godly passion to discover the Truths (‘knowledge, understanding and wisdom’) only found in God’s Word (Proverbs 2:1-5 KJV). Thus the crucial lesson that the truths of God’s Word will never be found, discovered, by those whose reading, studying and meditation in God’s Word is not done with godly integrity.

When the LORD has won an individual child of God’s heart, mind and soul to respond to Him with integrity, and to live in uprightness (consistent integrity). THEN, according to Proverbs 2:5a, “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,…”. It is THEN that the LORD has successfully won the heart and mind to the right understanding, has won that child of God to the right godly attitude and thinking towards Himself! So that they truly do have a reverential fear of Him!

And thereafter, through having a godly fear of the LORD, the way is opened for them to, “find the knowledge of God.” This is the ultimate goal of the child of God who is being successfully led by the Holy Spirit! Learning correct, accurate knowledge of the One whom their soul loves. This passion is from the Holy Spirit. And will make sense to those led by the Holy Spirit, because to the LORD, His children learning accurate knowledge of the Himself is more important than ANY other knowledge! Including all the knowledge contained in God’s Word that the child of God is commanded to learn, and that has vital bearing on their worship and service to their LORD. And the learning of all knowledge from God’s Word regarding the Christian Faith also being learnt, their being motivated by their love for their LORD. But the knowledge regarding the LORD Himself is most precious!

And once the child of God allows themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, and He has led them to know and understand the fear of the LORD. Then the LORD Himself will give them the ‘wisdom, knowledge and understanding’ they need that is contained in God’s Word…

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD givethwisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Reaching this stage in their spiritual development will be very significant, as their spiritual Bible education will be managed by the LORD through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Who will open, and teach, God’s Truths as not experienced by the child of God before to the same degree. All because they have met His requirements to learn ‘wisdom, knowledge and understanding’ (the LORD’s perspective) from / through His Word.

To be clear: Having the fear of the LORD the child of God will have the right, godly attitude towards Bible knowledge learnt. Which will drive them on to learn all that they can from God’s Word of their LORD Himself. And as they learn more and more about their LORD, their love for Him will grow. Especially motivating them to know how to correctly worship Him, serve Him, and walk with Him according to His will as revealed in His Word. Learning all that He wants them to know in order to be useful to Him in His purposes in this world. And the child of God with the fear of the LORD in their heart’s and mind’s will pursue accurate understanding of those truths with a passion driven by their growing love for Him.

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Knowing The Reality Of “The Fear Of The LORD” Opens The Way To ‘Knowledge’ And ‘Wisdom’ From The LORD

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

… is expanded on in Proverbs 2…

Proverbs 2:1-5 1 My son, IF thou wiltreceive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 SO THAT thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 IF thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;5 THEN shalt thou understandthe fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

(Previously…)

Why study, “the fear of the LORD”? – Because the Lord says that a right attitude towards Him is required for His children to gain knowledge. Meaning accurate spiritual knowledge from Him, from His Word.

The required passion for God’s Truth, for ‘wisdom, understanding, and knowledge’, only comes to God’s children who respond to the inner working of the indwelling Holy Spirit with integrity, and who thereafter walk with Him uprightly! (Consistent integrity).

(Continuing…)

Integrity In The Study Of God’s Word Exemplified In The Life Of King David

King David had the testimony with the LORD that every child of God should aspire to, should aim for…

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

David, in his personal walk with the LORD, so yielded himself to the LORD, and so valued God’s Word that he spent a lot of time in God’s Word getting to know the LORD, the LORD’s will, and the LORD’s ways. That David’s heart and mind were eventually shaped by God’s Word. Meaning that David himself was changed by God’s Word, David’s life was shaped by God’s Word! And therefore the LORD’s testimony of David that He found David to be, “a man after mine own heart”, and therefore, ‘a man, “which shall fulfil all my will.” In our church age the New Testament Scriptures would call such a child of God ‘Christ-like’, or “spiritually minded”. i.e. The LORD’s ideal of the mature, the blameless child of God.

The reason for David being a man after God’s own heart is Firstly, because of his personal response to the LORD with all of his heart, mind and soul. Then secondly, David’s right heart towards the LORD caused him to value God’s Word very highly, and therefore obey the leading of the Lord to learn all he could about the LORD from His Word, and to learn all that God’s Word taught about the Israel’s relationship with the LORD.

In Psalm 119 king David expressed his great love and appreciation God’s Word, and how much it meant to Him. Keep in mind that David was a child of God, shaped by God’s Word, which is the reason for Him SO appreciating how priceless God’s Word is to God’s children. This godly appreciation of God’s Word established in his heart and mind through having known, and lived God’s Word…

Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psalms 119:4 Thou hastcommanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

David in his passionate study of God’s Word would have learnt of the LORD’s command to keep His Word, His, “precepts diligently”…

Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

Deuteronomy 5:28-29, 32-33 28 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! [THE LORD HERE PASSIONATELY EXPRESSES HIS STRONG DESIRE FOR ISRAEL TO KEEP ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS, BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO BLESS THEM WITH A GLORIOUS LIFE WITH HIM. THEIR DISOBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD, TO HIM, WOULD PREVENT THAT!]32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.[GOD’S WORD TO BE KEPT EXACTLY AS GIVEN, AND WAS NOT TO BE CHANGED AT ALL!]33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. [ALL OF GOD’S WORD IS TO BE KNOWN, UNDERSTOOD AND OBEYED IN OUR DAILY WALK.]

David as a godly student of God’s Word would have learnt of the above Scriptures’ very direct command to keep God’s Word, God’s commands exactly as given by Him, and that He commanded that ALL of His commandments had to be kept, obeyed.

Psalms 119:10-13 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee:O let me not wander from thy commandments. [DAVID’S WALK WITH THE LORD WAS WITH GODLY INTEGRITY!]11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. [MEMORIZING GOD’S WORD!]12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. [DAVID WANTED THE LORD HIMSELF TO TEACH HIM THE SCRIPTURES, WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT HE HAD THE TRUTH FROM GOD’S WORD. AND NOT A WRONG PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD.]13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. [DAVID WAS DRIVEN TO SHARE GOD’S WORD WITH OTHER, WHOM HE KNEW NEEDED GOD’S WORD JUST AS MUCH AS HE DID!]

Take time to go through the whole of Psalm 119, and notice how David mentions God’s Word in just about every verse, and uses this extended Psalm to express how priceless God’s Word is to him!

The Lord has given us His Word in order for us to know with certainty what life with Him is in reality. And with our world so far from God with endless mixed ideas of Who He is, and what His Truth is in all matters. We MUST do a responsible study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15-16), relying on the Spirit’s leading (Romans 8:14), in order to learn God’s perspective of life – His Truth!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

___

Why did the Lord create man? According to what the Lord has revealed to us through His Word, the Bible, man was created to have life with Him. That they would have a full, secure and purposeful life with their Creator. So that those who CHOOSE life WITH Him, would learn to know Him, and therefore love Him with all of their being. And motivated by love, glorify Him in all that they do.

Knowing The Reality Of “The Fear Of The LORD” Opens The Way To ‘Knowledge’ And ‘Wisdom’ From The LORD

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

… is expanded on in Proverbs 2…

Proverbs 2:1-5 1 My son, IF thou wiltreceive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 SO THAT thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 IF thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;5 THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

(Previously…)

Why study, “the fear of the LORD”? – Because the Lord says that a right attitude towards Him is required for His children to gain knowledge. Meaning accurate spiritual knowledge from Him, from His Word.

Why Is This?

Firstly, because godly, reverential, fear is appropriate towards One Who IS Almighty God…

Secondly, because godly, reverential, fear is required in God’s children before He will guide them into His Truth (Proverbs 1:7). Before He will open the Truths contained in His Word to their hearts and minds…

Thirdly, The required passion for God’s Truth, for ‘wisdom, understanding, and knowledge’, only comes to God’s children who respond to the inner working of the indwelling Holy Spirit with integrity, and who thereafter walk with Him uprightly! (Consistent integrity).

‘Integrity’ is ‘moral innocence’; ‘Uprightness’ means ‘straight’, being ‘consistently morally straight’ as opposed to being ‘consistently morally crooked’. And ‘honest’ or ‘honesty’, which we are more familiar with, meaning ‘morally good’. The following are just three of the Scriptures that we looked at in our studies of these three virtues: Job 1:8; 1 Kings 9:4; 1 Chronicles 29:17

The point of these verses is that they teach us the LORD’s very high value of these virtues because of how vital they are in the development of the child of God’s life, as well as in their daily life with Him. AND THEREFORE ALSO IN THE QUALITY OF THEIR APPROACHING THE STUDYING OF GOD’S WORD!

(Continuing…)

I’m sure that when most of us consider the virtues ‘integrity, uprightness and honesty’ we think of them mainly in terms of morality. Which we only expect to find in a person of unusual moral quality. And this is certainly what the LORD loves to see in His children. But there is more to these virtues than in describing their behaviour in doing what they believe to be right, and in not doing that which they believe to be wrong.

‘Integrity, uprightness and honesty’ also refers to the quality of how they do things. When greeting someone many do so without caring at all whether that person is happy with their life or not. In our rushed world I have found this to be the most common way people greet one another. Asking how they are, and then saying that we are doing well. Even if we are not doing well. We don’t care to get into how they really are doing. And so our asking how they are doing is often done in a less than honest manner.

When the LORD calls man to ‘repent toward God, and have faith toward Christ’, He is calling for repentance and faith that is honest. ‘Repentance toward God’ is not to be done half-heartedly. The required individual’s change of mind, change of thinking, towards God is not a slight change of mind, or thinking, towards God. It is a total change! A change in thinking that will change that person’s entire life…

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Where before repenting toward God, and having faith toward Christ, the person has previously lived – like those around them – primarily only for their own selfish interests. Being the masters of their own lives. But when they have repented towards God, as completely with integrity as He requires of them, then they are led to – for the rest of their lives – yield their lives to Him as, “a living sacrifice”, to God. Allowing Him to shape them, to shape their very thinking, their minds, to His ways, and to His values…

Romans 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Such a walk with the LORD, such complete obedience to Him, is the kind of repentance toward Himself that He requires, which is a response to Him of integrity. A response that takes Almighty God seriously, a response of the whole person, a response of the heart, mind and soul!